Yellow-blotch rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Golden rabbitfish, Gold-saddle rabbitfish, Deepbody spinefoot, Golden-spotted spinefoot, Goldlined spinefoot, Yellowblotch spinefoot
Family
Siganidae (rabbitfishes)
Origin
Eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific: Andamans and Sumatra to West Papua and the southern Ryukyus; shallow coastal reefs, mangroves and river mouths to 35 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
42 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
1000 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
with_caution

Care

Tank: a large fish (list size 42 cm; 25 cm is more usual) that lives in schools of 10–15 in the wild, so it needs a very large tank with long open swimming room; an estimated minimum of 1,000 litres for one adult (our estimate). Water: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, salinity SG 1.023–1.026. These are general marine aquarium figures for a tropical species, not species-specific values from the sources. Keep nitrate low and oxygen high. In the wild it tolerates a wide range of salinity. Behaviour: unusually for a rabbitfish it may be active at night. Occasionally seen in the aquarium trade. Safety: the dorsal, anal and pelvic spines carry venom glands. Stings are painful but usually not dangerous. Net carefully and get medical advice if stung. Conservation: assessed by the IUCN; the category is not given in the article. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siganusguttatus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly grazes bottom algae. Give large amounts of marine algae and vegetable matter daily, plus herbivore pellets and some frozen foods.

Breeding

Spawns at night in the wild, typically around midnight. Young settle in seagrass beds near river mouths. Not bred by hobbyists.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful towards other fish of a similar size. Reef safe with caution: a large, hungry grazer that may eat soft corals, zoanthids and fleshy LPS corals and uproot macroalgae.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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